USC Now mailbag, and there’s not one question about Josh Shaw

Welcome back to the USC Now mailbag! Let’s open it up.

Kevin Watts asks: Is Lamar Dawson practicing now for USC? Is he making the trip to Palo Alto and will he be able to contribute?

Love the new blog on the L.A. Times! Thanks for all the updates and stories.

Lindsey Thiry: Hi, Kevin, thank you! We’re happy you’re reading and hopefully watching the videos too.

Senior Lamar Dawson was expected to compete for his starting role at inside linebacker after he sat out the second half of last season because of a knee injury.

But the curious case of his recovery continues.

USC Coach Steve Sarkisian said two weeks ago that Dawson needed to be remotivated in his rehab from knee surgery.

Dawson participated in drills this week, but it remains unclear when he’ll play in a game.

Sarkisian said a return could happen after Week 3.

Rick Barke asks: I was wondering if you knew the status of Lamar Dawson and D.J. Morgan? They were both so promising as freshman, and I know they are both coming off injuries. I just thought that Dawson in particular would be playing this season, and I see they are both still on the roster. Any information you might have would be appreciated.

Lindsey: Hi, Rick, you and Kevin think alike, so let’s get to D.J. Morgan.

Morgan, a fifth-year senior, was taken off the 105-man roster a couple weeks into training camp because of nagging injuries.

He was able to return to the roster at the start of the season and is practicing on the scout team. Morgan switched from tailback to safety this season.

Victor Bulaich asks: Doesn’t a coach have to recruit a hurry-up/no-huddle QB?

Lindsey: If you look at who Sarkisian has on the roster and who is committed, you’ll notice a variety of quarterbacks.

Redshirt freshman Max Browne is a pure pocket passer, and freshman Jalen Greene is more athletic with an ability to run.

In the 2015 recruiting class, Sarkisian has a commitment from Ventura St. Bonaventure High quarterback Ricky Town and San Clemente High quarterback Sam Darnold.

Town is a pure pocket quarterback. Darnold is a more athletic, but also has the ability to pass from the pocket.

Dan Cordova writes: We learned [against Fresno State] what some of us already know -- there are too many variables to talk trash before the game starts, it’s everybody expressing their opinions and that’s it. The game starts, football mimics life, too many things going on at one time, we don’t see, hear, smell every second, referees, coaches miss fouls, can’t don’t see every player. The fastest players may not make it to the ball in time, the fastest/smartest quarterback may not see Leonard Williams coming for him. Luck/fate/God’s will all come into play.

Say what you will about next game with the Stanford trees -- I just want to see the game, not listen to everybody expressing their opinions.

Lindsey: Hi Dan, thanks for writing! And for sharing your opinion.

Bill Hokans, @Bhokans, asks: What’s the timeline looking like for Tre Madden?

Lindsey Thiry: Sarkisian described Tre Madden’s toe injury as “turf toe.” Sarkisian has not given an exact time frame for Madden’s return, and injured players are not available to the media.

But let me tell you from personal experience, turf toe isn’t fun.

Every time you try to push off, it hurts. Sometimes, just walking hurts. And putting on high heels for a period of time? Forget about it (OK, maybe that doesn’t apply to Madden).

Needless to say, this type of injury is problematic for a tailback who needs to push off his toe and cut every play.

Madden was in a walking boot, but is now wearing sneakers.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes it back to practice soon (maybe another week?), but I expect he will be limited, in order to see how the toe responds.

This type of injury has the potential to turn into a nagging one for indefinite amount of time.

@Allen_i asks: Does USC have the depth to play a 5-2 front if necessary?

Lindsey: USC defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox installed a 3-4 defense that can play multiple fronts. There isn’t a lot of depth in the front seven, but there is enough talent to change the look.

Nick Tresnowski, @NTresnowski, asks: If USC had to rank importance of games 1-3 between Stanford, UCLA and Notre Dame, what would it be?

Lindsey: Just a prediction here, but if I asked USC to rank those games, it would sound like this: Each game is important, we take it one game at a time. The most important game is the one we are playing this week.

So I’ll give you the next most important ranking -- my own.

1. UCLA. Think of the buildup to this game: USC has lost to the Bruins the last two years. It’s the last Pac-12 game on USC’s schedule, and it could decide the Pac-12 South champion. This game is also important for the future of the program because every top-rated recruit in Southern California will likely be there to watch.

2. Stanford. USC faces Stanford in the Pac-12 opener, which means it can be a quick way for the Trojans to get off to a fast start in the conference, or it’s a game that can make the rest of the season look like an uphill battle.

The Cardinal have won five of the last seven meetings. If USC wants to return to the top of the Pac, they have to get by Stanford.

3. Notre Dame. A team on this list had to be third, so the Irish it is. The Trojans have lost this rivalry matchup the last two seasons. It’s hard to predict what kind of meaning this game could have, because it’s the last on the schedule. But with the new college football playoff, it certainly might make things interesting -- if both teams have outstanding seasons.

Questions about USC? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com or tweet @LindseyThiry and I will answer questions in a weekly USC Now mailbag